The Battle of Britain

The battle begins, summer 1940
The battle begins, summer 1940

After defeating France in June 1940, Hitler assumed Britain would sue for peace but ordered his armed forces to prepare for invasion. Hermann Goering assured him that a sustained air assault would destroy the RAF, winning the air superiority needed.
A Heinkel He 111 bomber flying over London, September 1940
A Heinkel He 111 bomber flying over London, September 1940

July 1940 saw German planes target shipping in the Channel, drawing the RAF into combat, before radar stations, communications centres and airfields faced round-the-clock bombing in August. The battle reached a climax with attacks on London in September.
The Women's Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF)
The Women's Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF)

Joan 'Elizabeth' Mortimer, Elspeth Henderson and Helen Turner of the WAAF. All three received the Military Medal for courageous conduct during attacks on Biggin Hill airfield. Biggin Hill suffered a total of ten major attacks between 30 Aug and 5 Sept.
Non-British personnel in the RAF
Non-British personnel in the RAF

A group of pilots of No. 303 (Polish) Squadron RAF return from a sortie. The first Polish squadrons were formed in the summer of 1940. Pilots came from several other countries, including Australia, Canada, Czechoslovakia, New Zealand and the USA.
Sector 'G' Operations Room at RAF Duxford
Sector 'G' Operations Room at RAF Duxford

RAF Duxford was a Sector Station in 12 Group, responsible for defending the Midlands and East Anglia. As the fighting intensified, Duxford's squadrons were called on to support 11 Group's defence of London and the south-east.
Hawker Hurricane Mk Is of No. 85 Squadron RAF
Hawker Hurricane Mk Is of No. 85 Squadron RAF

Despite incessant attacks, the RAF's defences held. The Luftwaffe could not continue, and in the autumn switched to 'nuisance' raids and night operations. The failure to defeat the RAF convinced Hitler to postpone his invasion plans indefinitely.

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Proteins ... the Body Builders
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the main image is positioned across the centre, held within a white border, with a smaller image placed in the lower left. The title is separate and located in the upper quarter, in red outlined white, and in green. The main text is separate and...
Foundation Foods
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the main image is positioned across the centre, held within a white border, with a smaller image placed in the lower left. The title is separate and located in the upper quarter, in red outlined black. The main text is separate and positioned in...
Fats for Energy and Heat
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the main image occupies the majority, held within a white border, with a smaller image positioned in the upper right. The title is separate and placed in the upper quarter, in red outlined black, and in the lower quarter, in green. The text is...
Carbohydrates ... for Energy and Heat
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the main image occupies the majority, held within a white border, with a smaller image positioned in the lower left. The title is separate and placed in the upper quarter, in red outlined black, and in green. The main text is separate and located...
The Oslo Lunch
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the main image occupies the majority, held within a white border, with a smaller image placed in the lower right. The title is partially integrated and located in the upper quarter, in red outlined black, in green outlined white, and in green. The...
Vitamins and Minerals
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the image occupies the majority, held within a white border. The title is separate and positioned in the upper quarter, in red outlined black. The main text is separate and placed in the lower quarter, in green and in black. Further text is...
Join the Women's Land Army
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1943-02
whole: the image occupies the majority. The title and text are integrated and positioned in the upper half, in red and in blue. Further text is separate and placed across the bottom edge, in green. All set against a white background. image: a shoulder-...
Australia - Her Natural and Industrial Resources
(posters) Made by: Gill, MacDonald (artist) 1942
whole: the main image occupies the majority, with two smaller images positioned in the upper right and lower left. The title is partially integrated and placed in the upper left, in black, held within a yellow banner. The text is partially integrated and...
The War Told for You in Pictures
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1940-09-13
whole: the 12 images occupy the majority. The title is separate and positioned across the top edge, in green. The text is separate and located in the upper centre and beneath each image as a caption, also in green. All set against a white background....
Subscribe to the Peace Loan
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1918
whole: the image occupies the whole, with the title integrated and positioned upper left, in blue and red, outlined blue. All held within a black border. image: an Australian pastoral scene, with a half-length depiction, in the foreground right, of a...